Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Nathan Fasten Collection, 1930
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Fasten, Nathan, 1887-
- Title
- Nathan Fasten Collection
- Dates
- 1930 (inclusive)19301930
- Quantity
- 0.05 cubic feet, (1 box )
- Collection Number
- MSS Fasten
- Summary
- The Nathen Fasten Collection consists of a copy of Fasten's book Origin Through Evolution.
- Repository
-
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Nathan Fasten was born in Austria on December 4, 1887, and came to the United States when he was two years old. He grew up in New York City, and graduated from the College of the City of New York in 1910 with a bachelor of science in chemical biology. From 1911 to 1914 he studied zoology, plant physiology, cytology, genetics, evolution, and fisheries as a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, earning a Ph.D. in 1914.
After teaching at Marshall College (1910-1911), the University of Wisconsin (1911-1914) and the University of Washington (1914-1920), Fasten came to Oregon Agricultural College in 1920 as an associate professor of zoology and physiology. The next year he was promoted to professor and department head; he served in that capacity until his resignation from Oregon State College in 1944. He later worked as Chief Scientist for the Washington State Water Pollution Commission in Seattle. Fasten authored many journal articles and books. The latter included Origin Through Evolution (1930), Elements of General Zoology (1931), Principles of Genetics and Eugenics; A Study of Heredity and Variation in Plants, Animals, and Man (1935), and Introduction to General Zoology (1941). He was a member of several honorary societies and professional organizations, including Sigma Xi (national science honor society), the American Society of Naturalists, and the American Society of Zoologists. He was also a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Fasten died in Seattle on September 19, 1953.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection consists of a copy of Fasten's book, Origin Through Evolution, published in 1930 by F. S. Crofts and Company of New York. The book is annotated inside the front cover with the name of a previous owner, who likely purchase the volume in 1932 while a student at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. The endsheets near the back cover are annotated with the owner's critique of Fasten's theory of use and disuse in evolution.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Related Materials
Biographical information on Fasten is located in the Memorabilia Collection and in the News and Communication Services (RG 203) biographical files. See Harriet's Collection #1812 and the OSU Historical File (P 25:2150-51) for photographs of Fasten. A faculty group photo that includes Fasten is located in the Faculty and Staff Photograph Collection (P 46:6). The College of Science Records (RG 24) include correspondence between Fasten and the Dean's Office.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Evolution (Biology)